Caster.



- Patented Sept. 2, I902. s. n. CLARK.

No. 708,204.v

CASTEBJ (Application filed Dec. 24, 1901.)

(No Model.)

din (@806:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. CLARK, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,204, dated September 2, 1902. Application filed December 24, 1901. $erial No. 87,088. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainville, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented'certain new and useful Improvements in- Casters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in furniture-casterstand the object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient, durable, and inexpensive means to carry the carter-wheel and also afford an effective means of connection and bearing for a pin or other device by which the caster is secured to the furniture.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure l is a side elevation of my improved caster. Fig. 2 is a section through the caster-frame of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofsaid frame. 4. is a rear view of said frame. front View of said frame. the under side of said frame. Fig 7 is a view of a modified form of pin or pintle- Fig. 8 is a view of the under side of a modified casterframe.

In the drawings the means by which the caster is secured to the furniture is a pin or pintle 1. a

2 is a caster-wheel. I

3 is a washer or flange on pin 1.,

4 represents balls between the flange 3 and the wheel-carrying frame. The top of the wheel-carrying frame is substantially fiat,-

but is provided with an opening to form a rigid bearing for the pin 1. The edge around said opening may be depressed to form a channel to receive the balls 4. The under side of the washer or flange 3 may be come spondingly depressed to partially house the balls, so that when the parts are in position (shown in Fig. 1) they will not fall out. In this particular type of caster the lower end of the pin 1 is provided with a head underneath the frame, so that the parts are permanently assembled. Suffioient freedom of action is afforded to permit the caster-frame to turn freely upon the pin 1. l The frame is an integral structure, and when formed of sheet metal is in the blank practically flat. By manipulation the blank is converted from the flat shape into the shape illustrated in the drawings,in which 5 5 are horns between Fig. Fig. 5 is a Fig. 6isaview ofwhich the caster-wheel 2 may be placed and pivotally held. The sides of the frame are bent inwardly abruptly, so as to form deep channels or corrugations77, the function of which is twofold. By channelingthe frame in this way angles are formed, which impart great strength and rigidity to the frame; furthermore, a firm lower bearing is provided for the lower end of the pin 1. The back of the frame is turned down, forming an integral bend with the top and sides and spans or bridges the same in such manner as to materially add to the strength and finished appearance of the articles. The rear of the frame is tapered, as best shown in Fig. 4, so that these surfaces oblique to the adjacent parts further stiffen the frame. The top of the frame is sufficientiy extensive to afford a proper bearing for the'upper ends of the horns 5 5. Manifestly the top of the frame may be left entirely fiat and no antifrictionballs provided, or if it is channeled the antifriction-balls may be provided or not, as desired. In case the balls are not provided a convenient form of pintle is shown in Fig. 7, in which 8 is the pintle, and 9 is a washer or flange the lower side of which is preferably shaped to approximately fit and take a bearing in the depression around the rigid upper pintle-bearing, as shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that an integral caster-frame may be produced which provides both a holding means for the casterwheel and also eflicient bearings for the pintle, said frame possessing unusual strength and rigidity. The channels 7 7gradually in crease indepth as they extend downward. 'lhis'gradual increase in, depth draws in the rear side of the frame,-so as to properly form thelower rigid bearing for the pintle l. The particular shape of the channels 7 may best be seen in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. Sit is shown that it is not necessary that the rearof the frame be bent under, as shown in Fig. 6. In other'words, the 'top of the frame may be of smaller area and the sides may be bent in sufficien'tly to afford-a bearing for the pin. In this construction the depth of the channels 7 7 does not increase as they extend downwardly.

In Fig. 8 a bushing 10 is shown, which is simply a tubular sleeve carried by the frame and in which the pin 1 may take its bearing. If the sleeve or bushing 10 were omitted, the size of the pin should be such as to take a proper bearing in the frame. These matters of proportion are details so familiar to the mechanic as to not require the necessity of special illustration.

What I claim is-- 1. In a caster, a sheet-metal frame comprising a solid top, a perforation therein to form an upper bearing for a pintle the sides and back of said top being bent down and contractcd to form a lower bearing for the pintle, Wheel-supporting horns extending downwardly from the solid top and forwardly from the depressed sides thereof.

2. In a caster, a sheet-metal frame comprising a solid top, a perforation therein to form an upper bearing for a pintle the sides and back of said top being bent to' form a lower bearing for the pintle, wheel-supportinghorns extending downwardly from the solid top and forwardly from the depressed sides thereof, and corrugations between the depressed sides and said horns, said corrugations being deeper at the bottom than at the top.

3. In a caster, a sheet-metal frame comprising a solid top, a perforation therein to form an upper bearing for a pintle, the sides and back of said top being bent to form a lower bearing for the pintle, wheel-supporting horns extending downwardly from the solid top and forwardly from the depressed sides thereof, and a bushing secured in place by the back and sides of said top portion.

Signed at Plainville, Connecticut, this 12th day of December, 1901.

GEORGE D. CLARK.

Witnesses:

J. SANFORD CORBAN,- DWIGHT G. CLARK. 

